Well, there always is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH0TCgkY24A

And then there's the advice many others will shower you with.

"crackling" and other terms merely showcase the limited power of onomatopoetic words.
Best way to immediate results would be to upload an wav or mp3 of the actual problem.

Also, one could claim that the dx33 became obsolete the day the dx50 got released in June 1991. So, anything beyond an SB pro isn't all that period correct, IIRC.
Certainly not a AWE64 any more than the YMF or even that Live. 😉
Feel free to sneak in some generic ALS100 and I shall look the other way.

C0deHunter wrote on 2022-04-07, 20:52:

Hello all, On my newly obtained 486-DX33 build (see here please Re: 386 / 486 Build: Your Suggestions Please?) […]
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Hello all,
On my newly obtained 486-DX33 build
(see here please Re: 386 / 486 Build: Your Suggestions Please?)

When I install either of the SB16 (CT2900) or AWE64 (CT4500) I get crackled speech (digitized sound). Both cards are fine when utilizing music (AW64 Midi sounds normal)

I know both of them are OK, as I have used them many times in my other systems (P-90MHz, 233AMD, etc.)

I have 2 other (PCI based however) sound cards: SBLive! and Yamaha (YMF724F-V), that I can test out on this machine, but they are not *period correct*, and I was hoping I could use either of my SB16 or AWE64 instead.

Do you know why I get this crackling sound? Is it my CPU?

Thank you for your kind comments and help in advance.

Could you display the motherboard BIOS settings? The crackling digitized sound is not normal and may be related to the ISA bus in the motherboard.

Cuttoon wrote on 2022-04-07, 21:11:

Well, there always is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH0TCgkY24A

Neither that SB16 card (which has the Vibra 16S chip) nor the AWE64 has the single-cycle DMA clicking bug displayed on that video.

For better information about SB16 and AWE issues, check the following thread: Sound Blaster 16 Bugs and Deficiencies Summary

Also, one could claim that the dx33 became obsolete the day the dx50 got released in June 1991. So, anything beyond an SB pro isn't all that period correct, IIRC.
Certainly not a AWE64 any more than the YMF or even that Live. 😉

I agree that these three sound cards aren't period correct for that 486 computer, but the AWE64 is at least an ISA sound card. 😀

Feel free to sneak in some generic ALS100 and I shall look the other way.

ALS100-based sound cards aren't period correct either. 😜

Gmlb256 wrote on 2022-04-08, 03:05:

ALS100-based sound cards aren't period correct either. 😜

That was kind of my point!

How much is there, say, pre-AWE32 (q1 1994) that's borderline obtainable, other than Soundblaster?
Some better Aztech cards, I'd assume.
The PAS16 used to be quite cheap, but...

Probably a WSS/MAD16 variant with a CS4231/4248. There's more than just those Aztechs doing it, and they were in relative budget obtanium *in* 1994.